“You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book.” (Ps.56:8 TLB)
“He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.” (Rev.21:4 TLB)
There are nights when sleep will not come. Our minds revisit old wounds or regrets, dwell on present worries and anxieties, or magnify uncertain tomorrows. In the darkness we can feel alone, unseen, and forgotten. Yet David offers a remarkable picture of God’s tender care: the Lord who watches over every sleepless hour. And he watches from close at hand: close enough to “collect” our tears. Every sorrow, disappointment, grief, and silent cry matters to Him. No tear falls unnoticed. What we may regard as our helpless weakness, God sees as precious enough to preserve. Each tear is noticed and recorded. Not one is lost. He remembers what has wounded us and understands what has cost us. Perhaps the greatest comfort is that the God who records our tears is also the God who promises to wipe them away ultimately. Our suffering is never meaningless, nor is it permanent. The bottle of tears is held in the hands of a loving Father whose purpose is ultimately healing, restoration, and peace. Today, whatever keeps us awake at night, we can be sure that our pain is known, our tears are treasured, and our story is known to God. We are not alone in the night.